Pharoah's Army Got Drowned eBook

“Chickadee,” he said, “you’ll
come out all right. You have the true elements
of success. You see where you’ve fallen
into error, you’re willing to admit it, and
you’re ready to use every means to improve in
the future. I’m not quite so surprised as
you are at the size of these bills; for, though we
made our estimates rationally, yet we have been buying
a great many things and having a pretty good time generally.
I foresaw this experience at the end of the month,
but I preferred to wait and see how we came out rather
than interfere with the proceedings; and another thing,
Patty, which may comfort you some, is the fact that
I quite believe that some of these tradespeople have
taken advantage of your youth and inexperience and
padded their bills a little bit in consequence.”

“But, papa, just look at Madame LaFayette’s
bill. I don’t think she ought to charge
so much.”

“These do seem high prices for the simple little
frocks you wear; but they are always so daintily made,
and in such good taste, that I think we’ll have
to continue to employ her. Dressmakers, you know,
are acknowledged vampires.”

“I like the clothes she makes, too,” said
Patty, “but I had concluded that that was the
best way for me to economise, and I thought after this
I would make my own dresses.”

“I don’t think you will, my child,”
said Mr. Fairfield decidedly. “You couldn’t
make dresses fit to be seen, unless you took a course
of instruction in dressmaking, and I’m not sure
that you could then; and you have quite enough to
do with your school work and your practising.
When did you propose to do this wonderful sewing?”

“Oh, I mean in vacation—­to make my
summer dresses.”

“No; in vacation you’re to run out of
doors and play. Don’t let me hear any more
about sewing.”

“All right,” said Patty, with a sigh of
relief. “I’m awfully glad not to,
but I wanted to help somehow. I thought I’d
make my green cloth costume for Diana in the play.”

“Yes, that would be a good thing to begin on,”
said Mr. Fairfield. “Broadcloth is so tractable,
so easy to fit; and that tailor-made effect can, of
course, be attained by any well-meaning beginner.”

Patty laughed. “I know it would look horrid,
papa,” she said, “but as I am to blame
for all this outrageous extravagance, I want to economise
somewhere to make up for it.”

“And do you call it good proportion to buy a
great deal too much to eat and then go around in botchy,
home-made clothes to make up for it?”

“No,” said Patty, “I don’t
believe it is. What can I do? I want to do
something, and I don’t—­oh, papa, I
don’t want to give up those horses that
you said you’d buy.”